Sharing

About This Module

WeParent have developed a proven process designed to overcome many of the common reasons children find sharing so challenging.

Sharing is a learned skill which children learn gradually over time. It’s not something that children will just start doing. They need to be taught how to do it.

This all starts by helping your child to understand ownership and what belongs to who. Then you’ll teach them to set their own clear rules around their toys. By setting these rules and boundaries around their own toys, an understanding of other people’s rules and boundaries will form.

Finally, we will look at shared possessions and tackle those situations where your child needs to take turns or, play together with other children, sharing communal toys without getting upset or causing conflict.

What You'll Learn

Cut down on arguments with friends and siblings caused by kids sharing.

Build a cooperative relationship with other children.

Introduce your child to sharing some of their own toys in a positive and constructive way.

Teach your child to respect other people’s toys and possessions.

Learn how to teach a child to share and teach your child to take turns with shared toys.

Psychology Fun Facts

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Sharing is a learned skill. A great approach to teaching sharing is to focus on praising children when they are sharing, rather than disciplining them when they aren’t sharing in a way you would like.

Remember that sharing is something difficult that your child is starting to learn at this age. Keeping a focus on praising the positive behaviour will teach children the concept of sharing more quickly and is more engaging for them.

As adults, we have clear expectations on what we will share with friends or family, and what remains our own personal possessions that we choose not to share.

Teaching your child to differentiate between their own personal possessions and communal possessions is a fundamental step in learning to share and playing alongside friends, without causing arguments.

A basic principle in learning to share is for children to learn to respect the personal possessions of other people.

It’s best to start by teaching your child ownership of their own toys and possessions. Allowing them to set rules around who uses them and how they want them to be played with.

This concept of owning something is essential to allow children to comprehend that other people have the right to set rules around their possessions as well.

When do children learn to share?

As toddlers, we are self-centred and unable to see the perspective of other people. Toddlers simply pick up things they see and play with them. They presume that other people think the same way as they do – that everything can be shared. At this age, toddlers don’t recognise that some things are personal possessions that belong to someone else.

From around the age of 4 years, children begin to recognise that other children have their own perspective which is likely to be different from theirs. Children begin to realise that others may be upset if they take toys which belong to them. This shows they are ready to learn to share.